RADIOACTIVE SOURCES: SLOVAK REACTION

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000138

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP TRGY ENRG KSTC PARM OPDC PREL LO IAEA
SUBJECT: RADIOACTIVE SOURCES: SLOVAK REACTION

REF: STATE 22020

POST DELIVERED REFTEL LETTER AND BACKGROUND PAPER TO FOREIGN
MINISTER KUKAN, AND POLOFF THEN MET WITH OFFICIALS AT THE
NUCLEAR REGULATORY AUTHORITY AND HEALTH PROTECTION AUTHORITY
TO DISCUSS TALKING POINTS. THE NRA HANDLES RADIOACTIVE
WASTE AND NUCLEAR POWER, WHILE THE HPA LICENSES RADIOACTIVE
SOURCES IN NON-POWER APPLICATIONS AND MONITORS THEIR USE AND
THE PUBLIC'S EXPOSURE TO RADIATION. OFFICIALS IN BOTH
OFFICES WERE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT SUPPORTING THE IAEA CODE OF
CONDUCT, HAVE PARTICIPATED IN ALL MEETINGS ON THE SUBJECT.
SLOVAKIA APPEARS TO EXERCISE STRICT CONTROL OVER THE LIMITED
AMOUNT OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL USED IN THE COUNTRY.
SLOVAKIA PASSED AN ACT AND REGULATION ON RADIATION
PROTECTION IN 2000 THAT CONFORMS TO EU DIRECTIVES ON THE
SUBJECT. OFFICIALS NOTED THAT SLOVAKIA IS NOT A PRODUCER OF
RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL, BUT THERE IS SOME STILL HERE FROM
BEFORE CZECHOSLOVAKIA SPLIT IN 1993. THOSE WHO USE
RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL IN NEW PROJECTS MUST INCLUDE A
PROVISION IN THE CONTRACT FOR ITS SAFE TRANSPORT BACK TO ITS
ORIGIN AFTER THE MATERIAL HAS SERVED ITS PURPOSE.

WEISER

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